Defensive Players Cardinals Should Watch at NFL Combine
INDIANAPOLIS -- The 2024 NFL Scouting Combine is upon us and there is no shortage of defensive players who are looking to improve their draft stock.
Naturally, the Arizona Cardinals and defensive-minded head coach Jonathan Gannon will be in full attention.
Throughout the draft process, we have come to realize how deep and talented the offensive players are in this draft; so much so that the defensive players are being overlooked. It's a shame, too, because there are some incredibly talented prospects who are being overlooked.
The Cardinals won't mind seeing any of these guys slip if it means snatching them up for great value, but who are the guys you should be watching?
Thankfully, I have compiled a short list of players for the Cardinals to watch closely who could be first-round picks or late-round steals.
Let's start with a look at the trenches.
Interior Defensive Line
Byron Murphy Jr., Texas
Murphy Jr. has been a player who has seen his stock rise dramatically over the last couple of months. A massive defensive tackle out of Texas has garnered so much hype that some are projecting him as the draft's top interior defensive line prospect ahead of Jer'Zhan Newton who controlled that title since even before the start of last season.
Now with a chance to cement his status as one of the draft's best interior defensive linemen, it'll be up to Murphy Jr. to display his raw, physical talent. The one everyone will pay attention to is the bench press for obvious reasons, but you'll want to pay attention to his shuttle drills where he can display his cutting ability as well as the pure strength he has to knock down the dummies.
A good Combine will all but secure Murphy Jr. into the first round and turn him into a target for the Cardinals with their second first-round pick.
Sleeper: Mekhi Wingo, LSU
Wingo played an LSU defensive line that also featured Maason Smith and Jordan Jefferson. Although he led the three in sacks, he still doesn't have as much hype as some of the other guys at his position. Wingo could surprise some folks and move his stock up with good agility and explosiveness as an athlete.
As long as he tests strong in more ways than one, he could climb some boards and have the Cards looking his way.
Edge Rusher
Dallas Turner, Alabama
Turner is among three edge rushers vying for the top spot at their position in the draft along with Jared Verse and Laiatu Latu. Turner may be the best pure athlete of the group and his explosion last season could see him become the first defensive player off the board in April.
For Turner to continue to climb, he needs an overall great Combine performance that can show teams he's worth a top-ten selection. The Cardinals could fancy him fourth overall if Marvin Harrison Jr. is unavailable - should Turner blow the doors off the hinges this weekend.
Sleeper: Jonah Ellis, Utah
Ellis was one of the nation's top sack artists last season with 12, and yet he's one of the most overlooked pass rushers in the draft. For Ellis to standout, he'll need to show off his athletic ability through shuttle drills. If Ellis can flex his ability to flex his hips in those drills and show off some explosion in events like the vertical and broad jumps, he could climb up boards.
The Cardinals need all the pass-rushing help they can get, and Ellis could prove to be a great value pick if everything lines up for him.
Linebacker
Edgerrin Cooper, Mississippi State
The linebackers in the 2024 NFL Draft class are more than quality and feature several day-one starters. Alas, none of these guys appear to be round-one players... for now.
Cooper looks the part at 6'3", 230lbs, plus the production to match. Cooper also looks like a pure athlete and can prove it at the Combine. A stellar showing across all the events could lead him to become the consensus top linebacker in the draft class and perhaps find a way to sneak into round one.
The Cardinals need somebody next to Kyzir White and Cooper could be that guy a the end of the first-round or even the top of the second.
Sleeper: Tommy Eichenberg, Ohio State
For my money's worth, Eichenberg is one of the most disrespected prospects in the draft. Eichenberg was highly productive at Ohio State and has a terrific football IQ. The only thing separating him from the other guys in the class has to be his athleticism, where he isn't anything truly special.
Eichenberg will need to prove he's more than just a good football player this weekend, but a strong performance should have him on the Cardinals' radar.
Defensive Back
Terrion Arnold, Alabama
The 2024 cornerback class is a mess. There is a different number one guy on seemingly every board from the media to NFL teams. A common name who has risen dramatically up boards, however, has been Arnold.
Arnold's teammate, Kool-Aid McKinstry entered the 2023 season as the consensus CB1, but an OK season has left many to question where he should be drafted. All the meanwhile, Arnold outplayed him and could very well be the first defensive back off the board.
I have a gut feeling that Arnold is going to dominate the Combine and if he does then he could play himself into the top-15 picks and maybe even the top 10. With a blazing 40-yard dash, explosion in the vertical and broad jumps, and anything else he can accomplish Arnold could have a huge weekend ad should have the Cards' attention as someone to trade down or up for with their picks.
Sleeper: Javon Bullard, Georgia
Is Bullard a safety or a cornerback? It really doesn't matter. When you have the versatility he does, he should be much higher on boards than he appears to be.
It feels like a shame to include him on the sleeper list, but nobody is talking about him at the moment. That could change this weekend with a strong Combine.
The Cardinals will be looking for difference-makers on defense and versatility will be a key component in that. Bullard can show off his stuff and it could lead to the Cardinals falling for him and making sure he's one of their guys. Besides, he does remind me somewhat of fan favorites and versatile DBs, Budda Baker and Tyrann Mathieu.
